FUNERAL CHAOS FEARS: Middlesbrough Schools to Close Early as Crowds Gather for Funeral of A66 Crash Victim
SCHOOLS in Middlesbrough are set to close early tomorrow amid safety fears ahead of a funeral for one of the victims of the horror A66 crash.
Roads will also be shut off as “large numbers of people” are expected in North Yorkshire to pay tribute to Jakub Matusiak, 23.
Schools in the area will close ahead of a funeral for A66 crash victim Jakub MatusiakCredit: No Credit
Jakub’s funeral will be held at the St John the Evangelist ChurchCredit: Facebook/Jakub Hewitt
He was one of five young men killed when their Volkswagen Passat hit a marked police car while going the wrong way down a dual carriageway.
Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18 and Michael Cahill, 23, also died following the fatal crash on the A66.
Jakub’s funeral will be held at the St John the Evangelist Church, with big crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes likely in the area tomorrow.
It is expected to be starkly different to the vigil held there for the two cops killed in the smash, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
It is expected to be starkly different to the vigil held for the two cops killed in the crashCredit: Getty
Big crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes likely in the area tomorrowCredit: No Credit
A previous balloon release for Jakub became a rowdy mob of around 200 people who lit up the sky with rockets and orange smoke.
And fury also erupted as five motors were torched and plumes of smokes filled the air at a twisted tribute for Michael Cahill last week.
Kate Dearden MP, described the scenes as “absolutely horrendous” and urged cops to “get on” with their investigation into the crash.
Cahills’ mum had urged people to bring “bikes, jeeps, cars and quads” to give her son “the send off he deserves”.
PC Matthew Blades died when a car going in the wrong direction hit a police car on the A66Credit: PA
PC Tom Clough also tragically perished in the crashCredit: PA
And there are fears of a similar turnout at the service for Jakub tomorrow, prompting locals schools to take urgent action.
At least four schools will shut, with South Bank Primary saying it would be closing at midday “to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils”.
Writing on social media, headteacher Tammy Cooper said: A funeral is being held locally at St John’s church on Normanby Road that day.
“We are expecting large numbers of people in the area which will inevitably cause congestion and transport disruption in the area.
“This decision has been reached after careful consideration of the potential impact on the departure of pupils, staff and families.
“We recognise the inconvenience this may cause and thank our families for their understanding and co-operation.”
Ms Cooper said the school also recognises “some pupils may feel upset or anxious about the funeral taking place locally”.
Mark Robinson, principal of Outwood Academy, said the school would also close following discussions between local headteachers and the council.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council confirmed “a number of schools in the South Bank area will close earlier than usual on Friday afternoon”.
The local authority said: “The decision was made after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport and the departure of pupils, staff and families at the end of the school day.
“Schools have worked with the local authority and transport providers to consider arrangements for pupils, including those who travel to and from specialist educational settings.
“We recognise that early closure may cause inconvenience for some parents and carers.
“We thank them for their understanding and co-operation.”
The A66 smash has sparked a wave of gang violence in Middlesbrough, with two hundred specialist cops being drafted in to restore order.
The fallout saw a gangland feud which had been bubbling up for months burst out into the open.
Sources say homes have been rammed for months as part of a tit-for-tat campaign involving rivals amid a gangland feud over “drugs and money“.
And, in an unrelated incident on Wednesday, a woman and seven-year-old girl were killed in a house fire.
Young Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, tragically died in the blaze at 5.23am.
Local MP Andy McDonald previously said residents feel “trapped in their own homes” and don’t feel safe enough to go to the shops.
